Jan., 1910 
LIFE HISTORY OF THE CALIFORNIA CONDOR 
11 
buttons on my coat, and he was gentler than any pet cat or dog. Every move he 
made was with care as if afraid of being too rough. Of course, if he were scared or 
struck at, he would strike back. But there was never the least indication of savage- 
ness when he was well treated. If I held meat in my hand, he nibbled to get it, 
but never once did he bite. 
A young condor is the incarnation of ugliness to most people. He is known 
only as a degenerate and a carrion-eater. But there is more than this in the condor 
nature. He readily adapts himself to better conditions and rises above the position 
that nature has forced him to occupy. The instinct for cleanliness was strong; he 
wanted fresh clean meat and fresh running water. 
In the condor home far back in the mountains I saw the display of a deeper 
love and affection than I have ever seen in bird life. In the absence of his own 
kind, General took human companionship not passively, but he showed that it pleased 
him. Why should such a creature be revolting? He was not ugly to me. It was 
not only the outward appearance but the inner nature of the bird that we learned 
to know. He was not stupid, contrary to some writers. He saw everything. He 
had a temper and showed anger when there was cause. At other times he was 
gentle and always ready to be petted. Behind his rough exterior and his appear- 
ance of savageness, this young condor showed a nature that was full of love and 
gentleness. 
By the middle of August, General was well fledged except that his breast was 
still covered with gray down. By another month this was replaced by brown 
feathers. With wings extended, he measured over eight feet. He weighed twenty 
and a half pounds and was forty-six inches in length. The wing feathers were 
strong, but they could not yet support his heavy body, for as yet he could fly but a 
few yards. 
After a continued and close study of over six months, the young condor had 
grown almost to maturity and we had carried our observations as far as the condi- 
tions would allow. On September 29, 1906, General left Portland, Oregon, to take 
up more commodious quarters in the New York Zoological Park. During the 
summer he is kept in the flying cage where he has room to fly about and get plenty 
of exercise. During the winter he has been kept inside as a protection from a cli- 
mate much colder than that of his native land. 
When General first arrived in New York, he was placed in the cage with an- 
other California Condor which was then at the Park. The two immediately became 
fast friends and both seemed to enjoy company. But in less than two weeks after 
that, the first bird died, so up to the present time General has had no companion of 
his own kind. 
During the month of December, 1906, while I was in New York, I went out to 
see General and was allowed to enter the cage with him. The minute I got near 
enough, he began nibbling my buttons and putting his head under my arm. 
I did not seethe young condor again until December 6, 1908, when I was in 
New York. I again entered his cage and found him as friendly and affectionate as 
ever. He nibbled the buttons on my coat and wanted to be petted. I was very 
much surprized to find that he showed no signs of bright color about his head, as it 
was covered with short gray down. He had been in good health, but at the age of 
almost three years he had not acquired the bright coloring of his parents. It is in- 
teresting to note that the head of a newly-hatcht condor, as well as that of the old 
bird, is perfectly bald; yet the head of the immature condor for the first few years 
is covered with a thick coat of furry down. 
